/86 A Trip on the Prairie. 



for cutting them off; and these opportunities were still 

 further increased by the two hunters separating. One 

 of them would go to the upper end of the plateau 

 and start the band, riding after them at full speed. 

 They would distance him, but would be checked in their 

 career by coming to the brink of the cliff; then they 

 would turn at an angle and give their pursuer a chance to 

 cut them off; and if they kept straight up the middle the 

 other hunter would head them. When a favorable moment 

 came the hunters would dash in as close as possible and 

 empty their revolvers or repeaters into the herd ; but it is 

 astonishing how hard it is, when riding a horse at full 

 speed, to hit any object, unless it is directly under the 

 muzzle of the weapon. The number of cartridges spent 

 compared to the number of prong-horn killed was enor- 

 mous ; but the fun and excitement of the chase were the 

 main objects with my friends, to whom the actual killing 

 of the game was of entirely secondary importance. They 

 went out after them about a dozen times during the winter, 

 and killed in all ten or fifteen prong-horns. 



A prong-horn is by far the fleetest animal on the 

 plains ; one can outrun and outlast a deer with the greatest 

 ease. Very swift greyhounds can overtake them, if hunted 

 in leashes or couples ; but only a remarkably good dog 

 can run one down single-handed. Besides prong-horn 

 are most plucky little creatures, and will make a most reso- 

 lute fight against a dog or wolf, striking with their fore- 

 feet and punching with their not very formidable horns, 

 and are so quick and wiry as to be really rather hard to 

 master. 



